AFTER being let down by a number of the senior members of the Shepshed squad, the development side travelled to Vipers with only 12 players.

Sportingly, Vipers gave Shepshed three players to even the numbers up.

It was always going to be a tough ask for the young Shepshed side, but strong performances again from scrum half Andy Plimsole and winger Nick Forbs will certainly help their cases for promotion into the first team squad.

Without a recognised front row or line out jumper, Shepshed struggled for clean possession and spent large periods of the game defending.

Although the more experienced Vipers side were deserved victors, Shepshed can take heart in the way they kept fighting and Nick Forbs took his try well. Shepshed also wish Nick Wilkinson a speedy recovery after he broke his hand early on in the game.

Shepshed captain Andy Plimsole remarked after the game “I’m very proud of the lads. There were a lot of positives to take from the game. We just need greater squad depth now to get 15 players out every week.”